Harper

Established in 1863, this small Hill Country community sits in off U.S. 290 in far west Gillespie County. The ranching community has white-tailed and exotic deer hunting, a museum with Native American artifacts and a park in the center of town.

Events include the Labor Day Rodeo, barbecue cook-off in September, Brush Arbor Days, and the Volunteer Fire Department's barbecues and fish frys.